Drinking water schemes to be speeded up: Minister

Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar who reviewed the progress of various developmental projects undertaken in the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly constituency on Thursday said urgent steps would be initiated to complete various drinking water projects that were launched under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The progress of these projects was held up after various departments accrued dues to the tune of Rs.46 crore. The delay would be sorted out in a meeting to be convened under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister shortly, he said.

Stating that reports and sketches for a new shopping complex and bus bay on the premises of the Attakulangara Central School would be submitted to the government in two weeks, Mr. Sivakumar said legal advice would be sought on making the defunct Madhavapuram LP School a part of the Kochuveli fisheries hospital. Steps would be taken to complete in two phases the Rs.316-crore project for streamlining the city’s sewerage system while the Thakaraparambu flyover would be completed by February 2014. Rehabilitation of traders in the region would be ensured before that, he said.

Mr. Sivakumar who reviewed the progress of preparations for setting up an engineering college under the Cooperative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) at Muttathara said land for construction of the Muttathara 110kV substation would soon be handed over to the Kerala State Electricity Board. Work on water distribution pipelines on the Museum-LMS and Vellayambalam-Observatory stretches under the Japan International Cooperation Agency would begin soon. These would enable supply of additional water of about 20 MLD, he said.

Earlier, officials informed the Minister that 15 companies had evinced interest in setting up a desalination plant at Kochuveli. Initial work was in progress for a Rs.2.5-crore underground cable project from Veli to Muttathara as part of the Muttathara sewage treatment plant.

The Minister also informed that financial assistance from the MLA’s asset development funds would be given for constructing multi-storied buildings for the Cotton Hill High School, SMV High School, Jagathy School for the Visually Challenged and the Eenchakkal Sidha Hospital apart from for a new block for the Valiathura hospital and also for renovation of the Beemapally-Valiathura road.

Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA) chairman P.K. Venugopal, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation general manager T.A. Krishnamurthy and others were present, according to an official release.